If You See Something on the Trail, Say Something

August 29, 2017
Peter Dolan
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

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If You See Something on the Trail, Say Something

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While trails can take you to some breathtakingly beautiful places, it’s no secret that they have their fair share of ugly problems, too.

Many of us have been out at one point or another and stumbled across an illegal dump site, trailhead vandalism, or a pack of off-road vehicle users tearing up the trail on ATVs and dirt bikes. The Trail Conference receives reports like these from the public on a near-daily basis, and one question comes up consistently: What can I do to help?

Luckily, if you’re hiking on state park land in New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has a hotline for exactly these issues. Stop reading, take out your phone, and save the following number: 877-WARNDEP (877-927-6337). Calling this number is the best way to let state park personnel know about illegal use on their land. For those who carry a smartphone, the new WARN DEP mobile app serves the same function. (Find more info about the app at www.nj.gov/dep/warndep.htm.) If you find evidence of illegal use, call the WARN DEP phone number or make a report via the app as soon as possible to ensure the park can follow up on the problem.

It’s important to note that the WARN DEP hotline is for non-emergencies only. If help is needed immediately, call 911.

For those of you hiking on non-New Jersey state park land, your best bet is to get in touch with the park office directly to report illegal use. You can find most parks in the region here on our Hike Finder Map. Each park has its main office number listed under the Contacts, Dogs and Fees tab.

The most important thing is to get into the “if you see something, say something” mindset while out on the trail. We need your help to keep the places we love clean and protected!